Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen was charged after police said he was driving without the ignition interlock required by his license restriction, adding another vehicle-related case to a string of recent legal issues.
According to court records, Griffen was stopped in Winona on Thursday night at about 8:12 p.m. after reportedly going 62 mph in a 40 mph zone on Riverview Drive. Police then found he was operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock, the breathalyzer-style device that keeps a car from starting unless the driver blows a 0.0.
After checking his driving record, officers determined Griffen had a restriction that barred him from driving a vehicle unless the ignition interlock was installed. He was taken into custody and charged with a misdemeanor and is currently awaiting trial.
The case is the latest in a series of driving-related run-ins for Griffen. He was arrested in 2023 and accused of driving while intoxicated, then later pleaded guilty in November 2024 to reckless driving, which dismissed the DWI charges.
In July 2025, Griffen was accused of violating probation after he reportedly failed to abstain from alcohol or drugs and did not comply with random drug testing. He was cited again in November of that same year after allegedly driving 130 mph in a 60 mph zone on Interstate I-494 in Minnetonka.
Griffen spent 10 seasons with the Vikings from 2010-19, appearing in 147 games and making 88 starts. He finished his Minnesota career with 86 tackles for loss and 74.5 sacks, both of which rank among the top four in franchise history. After leaving Minnesota, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, was traded to the Detroit Lions later that year, then re-signed with the Vikings in 2021 before ending his playing career.
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